ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - Firefighters across the United States are hoping that the grants they receive won't decrease.
If arson doesn't decrease by 2013, fire departments could lose about $100 million in grants and have to put out more fires, according to officials.
Arson has been an issue for local and national firefighters for the past couple of weeks. Fire officials said a home in St. Augustine was set on fire a few times within the past two months.
James Quiggle, the Director of Communications at THE Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, said people could be purposely setting their houses on fire to receive financial protection for not paying mortgages.
"Homeowners facing foreclosures are desperate. Some are going to take the most extreme step possible, which is torching the place for insurance money," Quiggle said.
